Rodents In Houston, TX

What You Need To Know About Rodents

Rodents are crafty critters, and some have discovered how easy it is to coexist with people. Rodents are among the most common household pests, and the best way to control them is with the help of a local and experienced West Houston pest control professional.

What are rodents?

Rodents are mammals that have continuously growing front incisors that never stop growing. To prevent their teeth from overgrowing, causing pain, and preventing them from being able to eat, they continually gnaw on objects to keep them worn down. 

If a rodent has entered your West Houston home, it is likely a mouse, rat, or squirrel. All three species live in large numbers in our region. 

Mouse

Mice have small, oval bodies. Their tails and large ears are covered in a light layer of velvety fur. Their fur is usually grayish-brown, dark gray, or black, with lighter-colored fur covering the belly. A mouse has a triangular-shaped head and a pointed nose.

Rat

Adult rats are noticeably larger than adult mice. Their fur is usually light brown to dark brown, with their underbelly also lighter in color. Their fur tends to be coarser than mouse hair. Unlike mice, the rat’s scaly tail and ears are usually void of hair. A rat’s head is chunky, and its nose is blunter than a mouse. 

Squirrel

Squirrels are similar in size to rats or a little bigger. Their fur is thick and varies in color (red, black, white, and brown). Most squirrels have long bushy tails they use for balance. They also have large eyes and pointed ears that sit up off their head. 

Are rodents dangerous?

No one wants to share their home with rodents. In our homes, rodents leave trails of urine and feces and will quickly contaminate your family’s food. They will also cause a variety of other problems, including:

  • Using their teeth to chew through wires, cables, vents, cabinets, walls, and floors. 
  • Digging through the grass and damaging plants, gardens, and grass. 
  • Carrying and spreading bacteria, pathogens, and parasites that make people ill.
  • Urine and feces build up around nesting sites that produce a musty and unpleasant smell. 

Rodents are dangerous pests, and removing those that have found their way into your home as quickly as possible is vital to the health and safety of you and your family. 

 

Why do I have a rodent problem?

Rodents like to live with people because our yards and homes provide them with the things they need to feel comfortable. Whether you live in an urban center, in the suburbs, or on a quiet country road, rodents can and will take advantage of your property’s food, water, and shelter. 

Food is the biggest attractant to rodents. Their keen sense of smell means that open trash cans, pet food, gardens, and outdoor eating areas, things found in most of our yards, can easily draw rodents to any of our properties.

Where are rodents commonly found?

Rodents primarily feed, nest, and breed outside. However, when living nearby, it is easy for rodents to use our homes, garages, and sheds as a respite from unsuitable weather or a safe place to nest and raise their young. 

Rodents are naturally curious, and as they are out exploring, they can easily find small openings that enable them to move into our homes. Inside, rodents like to nest in dark, quiet spaces like attics, crawl spaces, wall voids, the backs of closets, and under large pieces of furniture. 

Though rodents are primarily motivated to move indoors when the temperatures outside drop, they can find their way into any home at any time of the year! Year-round pest control is the best way to avoid problems with unwanted rodents.

 

How do I get rid of rodents?

Rodents are frustrating pests for homeowners to deal with year after year. They are difficult to prevent and even more difficult to eliminate. The best way to remove and control rodents in and around your West Houston home is to partner with a knowledgeable and experienced local professional. 

At Samson Pest and Termite Services, we specialize in trapping and removing rodents. We will do a thorough inspection and then provide you with our rodent control options and discuss the best way to control rodents in and around your Houston property. For the best rodent control in West Houston, partner with us to ensure your home becomes and always stays rodent-free; call today to learn more!

How can I prevent rodents in the future?

Use the following helpful tips to help make your property less attractive to rodents and to help you keep them out of your home. 

  • Cut back trees, shrubs, and other landscaping from the exterior of your home.
  • Remove excess clutter from your yard that rodents can hide within. 
  • Never store trash cans, recycling bins, or compost bins near the exterior of your home. All trash containers should have tight-fitting lids on them.
  • Ensure that large openings leading into your home, like chimneys, vents, and drains, have appropriate covers. 
  • Replace damaged weatherstripping, screens, and door sweeps.
  • Regularly inspect the outside of your home and caulk holes and cracks in your foundation and exterior walls.

If you need help removing problematic rodents from your property, please reach out to us today!